Bookcase and like shelving



March 28, 1950 H. IRWHN 2,5922@ BooKcAsE AND LIKE sHELvING Filed July 5, 1945 ff ff /f In VenO/g Patented Mar. 28, 1950 BOOKCASE AND LIKE SHELVING Harold Irwin, Tikokino, Waipawa, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand Application July 5, 1945, Serial No. 603,365 In New Zealand August 15, 1944 3 Claims.

This invention has been devised with the object of providing for the formation of such structures as bookcases, showcases, shop storage shelves and so on, in which the structure is formed by means of combined shelving and supporting frames.

The purpose for which the invention has been designed is to provide for the construction of the frame and shelving and their combination with fittings insuch a manner and of such a nature that the structure may be assembled or disassembled at will, and in the assembly the spaces between the shelves may be varied in height, or altered from time to time as required. In addition, provision is made for the spaces between the shelves being divided off in their length by vertical division pieces which may be readily adjusted to different positions along such length.

Thus the invention allows for the parts to form the structure, being packed within a minimum of space for storage and (or) for transport, as the unit members of the structure may be arranged flat, one upon the other when in the dis-assembled condition.

The invention is applicable in respect of its characteristic features to the formation of the shelving from sheet metal to produce a complete metal structure, but is also applicable to a com-v bination in which the frame and shelving are made of wood and the assembly fittings of metal.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a iront elevation of a set of shelving as assembled for use, the lower part thereof being shown in section.

Figure 2 is an inside elevation of one of the main upright frame members, showing a shelf in section associated therewith.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing two of the shelves in cross section and a divisional plate associated therewith.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating the application of the invention to wooden framing and shelving of which Figs. 5 and 'l are sectional views and Fig. 6 is a side elevation.

In the illustration of the invention as concerned with the all metal construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, for purposes of clearness in understanding the sheet metal is shown of much greater relative thickness than would ordinarily be required as owing to the manner of forming and combining the parts the necessary strength and stability of the structure may be obtained by employing thin metal sheeting of steel or like nature.

Also, in the making of the parts composing the shelving, the ordinary and well known practices in the art concerned with the shaping, joining and fabricating of sheet metal are employed.

The construction of shelving comprises in its main features, the provision of vertical side frame forming units I0 and horizontal principal upper and lower shelf units Il and I2 adapted to be locked at their ends with the side units I0 to form a rigid rectangular frame enclosure. It also comprises a number of intermediate shelf units I3 extending between the side units and supported at their ends by novel means whichl allow for these shelves being adjusted at any level in the frame that may be desired. In addition, the structure provides for the use of vertical division plates I4 for combination with the shelves to divide o the shelf spaces into separate divisions and for these plates being adjusted and held at any desired point along the length of the shelves.

Each of the said side frame members Ill is provided, near its top and bottom and upon its inside face, with a ledge I5 arranged in a groove I6 extending right across its width so that it projects vertically upward in the surface plane of the member and at its upper portion is a distance out from the groove face. Each end of each of the said upper and lower principal shelf units II and I2 is provided, or constructed with a downwardly turned lug I'l extending across the full width thereof and this is designed to slide in along the said ledge I5 to thus lock the shelf end to the side member, thereby providing for these two shelf members being arranged to extend between the side members in an interlock ing manner. When the said members are made of wood as in Figure 5, the ledge I5 upon the side I0 may suitably be formed by a flat strip of metal secured over the groove I6 formed in such side, while the lug I1' on the shelf II may be formed of metal plate shaped to extend up the edge of the shelf and fastened thereto and turned over into hook form at its top, and also,A

if desired, shaped with extensions on its inner part which lie beneath the shelf end to more effectually support it. The frame thus made may be re-infor-ced to aid its rigidity by corner metal brackets I3 extending across the back edges of the joints made by the engaging members. Also, the shelf member l l may be fastened in position by using screws to pass out through the said ledges l and into the lugs l1 upon the shelf members.

Each side member lll, Figs. 2 and 3, of the frame is also formed or provided with two vertical slotsI 2E extending betweenthe upper and lower shelf jointing, such slots being disposed one near each edge of the said member.

In the metal structure shown in Figures l to 4 these slots 2G are formed in the side/member itself and inthe wooden structure-shown. in Figures 5 to 7 the slots are formedlin'metal plates-2l that are imbedded into the surface of the side member in grooves formed in suchisurface. Elac-h slot 2G and 29' is made with notches22 and-'22 formed at suitable intervals along the length-of its back edge which notches open from the slot and turn down for a distance as shown in Figures 2 and "6. With the metal side members shown in vFigures l to 8 the slots 2t may each be closed or covered over on its outside by means of a metal strip suitably secured to the surface of the member lll.

The intermediate shelves i3 are designed to be supported in the side members it and to be adjusted up or down to any desired position by forming or providing each shelf at each of its ends with two longitudinally extending pin projections 23 whichare positioned apart in the width of the shelf a distance corresponding to the distance between the slots 22 in the latter. These pins enter the respective slots at each end of the shelf and are adapted to slide up and 'down therein and then to be caused to engage and rest in any of Athe'notches 22 as desired,l by merely moving the shelf slightly'rearward and releasing the shelf. At any time the'shelf 'may be freed from such engagement and raised, orlowered, and then again engaged and supported at the required level.

In the case of a metal shelf as in Figures 1 and 3these pins 23 may be formed upon the ends thereof, which ends may be flanged, as shown, to strengthen them. Thefront and rear edges of the shelf may also be flanged as shown, In the case of wooden shelving as in Figurei, the pins 23 are formed upon a metal strip 23, Fig. 7, that is screwed, or otherwise fastened to the end edge of the shelf, or the pins may-be driveninto the edge itself.

For the fitting of the adjustable vertical divisions lil to extend between the shelves, each shelf on each of its faces is made with a slot "2li extending longitudinally along near each edge and made with notches Ziopening at right angles therefrom at intervals apart in such length. rihe notches 25 of the two slots extend in the same direction relatively to the back and front edges ofthe shelf with those vof the one slot opposite those 'of the other, and these slots on the one shelf are made in exact alignment with those on the others in a standardized manner. The division pieces iii extending between the shelves may be made of varying heights to correspond with the adjustments made in the positions of the shelves in the frame. Each of these pieces is formed, or provided, with two pins"26 projecting from'itsbottom and topedges and-positioned at distances apart corresponding with the distance between the slots of the shelf faces. Thus a division piece may be placed in position by canting it sideways and then straightening it up to cause the pins on its top and bottom to enter the slots of two adjacent shelves and it may then be slid along to any point, and locked from movement at any desired position by moving it laterally to cause its pins to enter notches branching from such slots, the notches in the one slot being opposite those in the other.

In the all metal form the slotsli for the top 'and' bottom-fframe forming shelves lilY and l2 are cut in the metal sheeting, while in the intermediate shelves i3 those for the upper side are cut in the sheeting and those for the lower side are formed in at strips 2l arranged along beneath -the upper-slots so as to make their slots coincident as shown in Figure 4. The pins 2S upon the metal division plates lll are made integrally with the formation of the plates.

With wooden shelves and division pieces, how- Elever, the said slots (as shown in Figure '2) are formed in metal strips ZS imbedded into the surfaces of the shelves, and the pins 2t are formed upon metal plate strips 2Q secured along the top and bottom edges of such pieces, or instead thesel pins may be driven directly into the wood.

The construction of the Various` parts lends itself to a system of standardization in manufacture, and alsoin respect of wooden shelving to the manufacture and supply of the metal parts for use by makers of the wooden parts.

Any appropriate provision may be made to supply the-assembled structure with a back if so desired.

I claim:

-l. Bookcase or the like forming shelving coinprising two vertical end frame members each having horizontal ledges extending across its width respectively near its inner upper' and ,lower ends, said ledges lying within the plane of the inner surfaces of said end frame members, said end frame members having recesses provided behind said ledges, upper and lower shelf units disposed to extend horizontally between the end frame membersand each provided with downwardly turned lugs on their ends, said lugs eX- tending over the respective ledges on the end frame members and into said recesses, to thereby forma rectangular framing, screws carried byA said ledges and 'cooperating with said lugs for securing the shelf units in place, and interme-v diate shelfmembers extending between the main frame members and supported thereby by means permitting the shelves to be adjusted in 'the height within the said framing.

I2. Bookcase or the like forming shelving according to claim l, in which each of the said end frame `members is provided'with slots extending parallel and vertically along its inner face, each of said slots being formed with spaced notches,-

the shelves and each being provided with pins" 5 projecting from its upper and lower edges and positioned as to pass respectively into the said slots and to slide along the slots and into the said notches.

HAROLD IRWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 360,547 Winslow Apr. 5, 1887 506,829 Ohmer Oct. 17, 1893 604,388 Hamilton May 24, 1898 605,291 Hunter June 7, 1898 831,389 Steeg Sept. 18, 1906 Number Number 

